A fleet of fishing boats set sail to the East China Sea from Zhoushan in eastern Zhejiang province on Monday. On the same day, the three-month summer fishing ban was lifted on parts of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. Photo: IC Photo

As part of China’s efforts to protect marine fisheries, the annual ban covers the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the waters north of 12 degrees north latitude in the South China Sea. Photo: VCG

Fishing boats up-anchor from Lianyungang port, East China’s Jiangsu province, sailing to the Yellow Sea on Monday. Photo: VCG

Boats dock at the Lvsi fishing port in Qidong, East China’s Jiangsu province on Monday. The port is next to the Lvsi fishing ground, which is one of the four major fishing grounds in China. Photo: IC Photo

Fishermen load nets onto boats at Qingkou port in Lianyungang on Sunday. Photo: VCG

Fishermen carry supplies to a boat before setting off at Shitang port in Taizhou, Zhejiang on Saturday. The first batch of fishing boats mostly operate in the offshore waters to catch crabs and shrimp. Photo: VCG

A fishing boat sails near the northeastern city of Dalian on April 29, before the fishing moratorium, which started on May 1. Photo: VCG

Fishing boats at Shitang port in Taizhou on Saturday. More than 3,000 vessels set off from the city’s ports to fish on Monday. Photo: VCG